Air conditioning uses 5% of all energy produced in the United States and costs homeowners over $15 billion, resulting in about 140 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. Heating and cooling costs the average homeowner roughly $1000 a year--almost half his total energy bill.

 

Replacing Your Air Conditioner

If your central air conditioning system is over twelve years old, replacing it with an Energy Star qualified system could reduce your energy bill by up to 30%. Energy Star models are about 14% more efficient than standard models. Saving energy with more efficient cooling systems helps prevent pollution, and also saves you money on your energy bill. While Energy Star qualified units have a higher initial cost, the money you will save on your bills will outweigh the initial higher cost.

 

Similar to Energy Star's central air conditioning systems, Energy Star room air conditioners use 10% less energy than standard models--if every room air conditioner in the United States were Energy Star certified, it would prevent 1.3 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the environment, the equivalent of about 115,000 cars. Room air conditioners often include timers which allow for better temperature control, especially when leaving the house. This allows your home to use less energy, and stay cooler, while you are not home or are using other rooms. When looking for an Energy Star room air conditioner, make sure you buy the right size! Many people have room air conditioners that are too large for their needs, wasting energy, and their money.

 

When shopping for a new air conditioner be sure to look for Energy Star certified products--products that aren't certified may claim to be energy efficient, but do not meet Energy Star's high standard. Central air conditioning systems should have a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) of at least 15 and a room air conditioner should have an EER of 11 or higher. Look for units that have a fan-only option so you can also use the unit for night time ventilation. A filter check light is also helpful as it will remind you to change your filter, keeping the system working at its maximum efficiency. A thermal expansion device (TXV), especially when factory installed, will help your system deliver its rated efficiency even under adverse conditions and the device costs less than the inefficiency it guards against.

 

Other Options

Other than purchasing a brand new Energy Star air conditioner there are ways to cool your home and help out the environment at the same time. With your existing air conditioning system you should make sure to change your filter regularly--every one to three months. Be particularly good about changing your filter during heavy usage months: summer for cooling and winter for heating. A dirty filter makes the system work harder to get air circulating, therefore using more energy;changing the filters regularly will help save energy. You should also give your air conditioning system a "tune up" roughly every two years. Similar to a car, giving your air conditioner a tune up will help keep it working properly and therefore will make the most out of the energy it uses.

 

Ceiling Fans

Another great option to help save energy is to use ceiling fans--they produce a draft and wind chill effect. With a ceiling fan working in conjunction with an air conditioner you can set your thermostat to a higher temperature, which will also save energy; you will save 3-5% of your total energy costs for each degree you raise the thermostat. If your fan has a motor that can spin in both directions it can help you save energy all year: a counter-clockwise spin creates a breeze for the summer months, while a clockwise spin creates an updraft that keeps warm air in the occupied space for the cooler winter months. As always be sure to look for Energy Star certified ceiling fans. Energy Star fans have an improved blade design, have more options for better control, and include high efficiency light kits. Or if you already have ceiling fans you can replace the lighting kit with one that is Energy Star certified. And remember, fans only cool people off due to the breeze created, they don't actually reduce the temperature, so be sure to turn them off when you leave the room!

 

Tighten and Insulate Your Home

Warm outside air seeps in through the walls, ceiling, and cracks in your home, so improving your home's insulation and sealing can help reduce energy costs from using air conditioning. Increase your ceiling's insulation depth to 12 inches, install wall insulation if you haven't already, and seal all ducts and cracks--leaky ducts can decrease your cooling system's efficiency by up to 40%. Ducts consist of a network of pipes that carry air to and from the heating and cooling systems. If the ducts are sealed properly it will boost your cooling system's energy efficiency, and could save an average family up to $140 annually on energy bills!

 

Another large source of unwanted heat comes from the lights and appliances in your home, so make sure to use energy-efficient products. You can also delay heat-producing tasks, such as washing dishes and laundry, until the cooler evening hours.

 

 

Sources:

http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/cooling.htm

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cac.pr_central_ac

Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings by Jennifer Thorne Amann, Alex Wilson and Katie Ackerly